Brian chats with Todd Zinser 4/10/2026

In this revealing episode of Brian Thomas, host Brian chats with Todd Zinser, the self-appointed 'Citizen Watchdog' of Cincinnati, who continues his relentless scrutiny of city government after retiring as Inspector General of the U.S. federal government. Zinser exposes a web of financial opacity, potential conflicts of interest, and systemic abuse in Cincinnati's budgeting process, particularly around the allocation of taxpayer funds to nonprofits and the controversial $8 million request for the Farmer Music Center. He highlights how city officials are using the capital budget to mask subsidies, how council members are making arbitrary funding decisions without documentation, and how the mayor’s board memberships in recipient organizations create clear conflicts of interest. Despite repeated requests for transparency, city officials often ignore or dismiss Zinser’s inquiries, leading to a sense of futility. Yet Zinser persists, using a 'Wayne Gretzky approach'—anticipating the game’s flow and holding power to account. The episode paints a troubling picture of municipal governance where accountability is weak, transparency is lacking, and political self-interest dominates over public service.